Best Portuguese restaurant in Toronto, please

[ZoeZ]

We are making a trip to Toronto for the Maple Leaf Chow show and want to secure a reservation at the best Portuguese restaurant - recs. please! Much appreciated - we don't have any Portuguese restaurants in Los Angeles and want to eat my fill.

[FEDup]

Chiado, all the way. Absolutely try the whole fish (they bring them out on a platter and you get to choose the kind that you want). I would recommend the boca negra or dourada, but you can't go wrong with any of them. Don't be afraid to try some of their other apps, particularly from the bar menu as mentioned above. The marinated sardines are great, as is the choriço selection, very authentic.

Also, they have some great Portuguese wines, aperitifs and digestives. I would ask for a recommendation, especially if you're new to Portuguese wines.

I think Amadeus is reasonable, less high end for sure, but they do some of the classic portuguese dishes fairly well.

[neuf]

As mentioned, you should try a cheap Churresqueria too. Costa Verde has the best chicken, IMHO, and it is the cheapest that I have found.. I have only had the takeout, I have not eaten in.

Also, for a cheap sit-down restaurant, try Bairrada (http://www.bairrada.ca/). They've got a bunch of locations, and the food here is very good too.

[NovoCuisine]

Have the bifana sandwich at Bairrada.

I want one now.

[Lake]

The celebs were when the Toronto Film Festival was on, when the city was crawling with actors. Ordinarily, you won't run into a whole bunch of celebrities at Chiado (or any other Toronto restaurant). Occasionally there may be someone if they're filming in TO.

[anonymousmark]

This was long before the TIFF :) Toronto's always got a celebrity or two in town, and it seems like word has gotten out amongst the Hollywood North folk that Chiado's a great out of the way place for authentic portugese.

[anonymousmark]

How come nobody's mentioned Chiado yet? ;)

One of my top three Toronto dining experiences of all time. Excellent service, incredible menu, and a perfect dining atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Also a great spot for celebrity spotting if that's your thing. Clive Owen was at the table next to us at our last visit, and apparently Cameron Diaz was there the previous week.

[ZoeZ]

Thanks for all the votes for Chiado! We made a reservation there for the end of October - I'm REALLY looking forward to it. What a treat. Will give you a report.

[dinin and dishin]

Chiado! You don't need to look any farther.

[NovoCuisine]

Do Chiado. It's worth the money; great food, service, and atmosphere.

It is the only place I've been to that successfully dialed Portuguese cuisine up a notch. There is a reason it is constantly preached.

[estufarian]

If you haven't got the message yet - Chiado, Chiado, Chiado!
Do order the fresh fish of the day, but also order a serving (to share) of the Pata Negra Prosciutto (from their bar menu - which is separate from their dining menu). IMHO the best 'ham' available anywhere in North America (it also goes well with the Luis Pato sparkler that is available by the glass).

[dee dee]

we ate at chiado and the dinner was wonderful...the whole dining experience was wonderful...go and enjoy

[Truffles]

Another vote for Chiado...

[sherry f]

Chiado is awesome!

[paul6519]

Try Piri-Piry on Davenport or La Perla on College St.
Not High end restaurants but very clean with good service and just about as authentic as you are going to find here in Toronto.

[clr39s]

I tried Piri-Piri last night with some guests.

I hate to say this, but we were very disappointed. The service was slow and aloof, although not unfriendly. At no time did he ask us how our meal was, which was, uh, mediocre at best.

We all ordered fish for our mains. When they arrived, I immediately noticed the greens: the whole beans were dull, dull green like they've been overcooked to hell. I can't believe they would actually serve this. And, indeed, the greens were mushy and tasteless and luke warm.

My fish dish (I ordered the seam bream) wasn't all that bad, but for a dish that was over $21, you would have expected more. The presentation was amateurish and unappealing. It looked like things were just slopped on the plate. My guests didn't like their mains at all and didn't finish theirs.

The atmosphere is very casual--almost too casual. It's a family-oriented place with lots of babies and kids and NOISE. I wouldn't come here for a meeting.

All in all, I was a bit embarrassed for taking my guests here, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

[erly]

Chiado by a mile.
There is nothing to compare it to in Toronto.
Some say it is one of the best in the world.
Fish flown in fresh daily.
The whole grilled fish (three-4 to choose from) is always excellent.
The service is first-rate.

.

[embee]

Chiado by far, but be prepared to spend a LOT of money. I used to like Amadeus in Kensington, but haven't been there in a long time.

[Jacquilynne]

For a slightly cheaper option, you might try Adega. I believe it's run by the same people as Chiado, and the food is excellent, at a price point that's a little easier to swallow.

[happybelly]

Here is a recent string on Portuguese Restaraunts:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[mglenn]

Chiado at 864 College St.
www.chiadorestaurant.ca

Awesome seafood dishes.

[Yongeman]

Completely agree with Chiado. But if you also want to try some Portuguese food that's a little less classy/pricy, there are plenty of Churrascarias serving fantastic bbq chicken with piri piri sauce, roasted potatoes, rice etc.